Athletic Activity Monitoring Methods and Systems

• US 20130274635A1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Dibenedetto, Christian, Coza, Aurel
• Granted Patent: US 10,922,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Athletic activity monitoring methods and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor module is physically coupled to an object during an athletic activity conducted by a user. An athletic activity monitoring method for use with the sensor module includes the steps of detecting movement of the object, recording movement data, identifying a matching athletic motion from a plurality of reference motions by comparing the movement data to data associated with the plurality of reference motions, and providing an output to the user that conveys the identity of the matching athletic motion.

Claims

1. An athletic activity monitoring method for use with a sensor module that is physically coupled to an object during an athletic activity conducted by a user, the athletic activity monitoring method comprising:

the sensor module detecting movement of the object at a first time;

the sensor module determining that the movement of the object corresponds to a predetermined activation movement;

the sensor module entering an active state in response to the determination that the movement of the object corresponds to the predetermined activation movement; and

upon the sensor module entering the active state, detecting movement of the object at a second time.

2. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining an initial spatial orientation of the object;

determining a change in the spatial orientation of the object;

determining an activity metric based on the change in the spatial orientation; and

providing an output to the user that conveys the activity metric.

3. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

recording movement data;

determining a correlation between the movement data and an activity metric by reference to a data structure; and

providing an output to the user that conveys the activity metric.

4. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the object is the user'"'"'s body.

5. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the object is a piece of athletic equipment used by the user during the athletic activity.

6. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein detecting movement of the object comprises detecting movement of the object based on accelerometer data.

7. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein detecting movement of the object comprises detecting movement of the object based on magnetometer data.

8. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the movement of the object corresponds to a predetermined activation movement occurs when a threshold data value is met for a predetermined period of time.

9. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the initial spatial orientation of the object comprises:

determining the orientation of the object with respect to a gravity vector.

10. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the initial spatial orientation of the object comprises:

determining the orientation of the object with respect to an earth magnetic field vector.

11. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 2, wherein the activity metric conveys information that is selected from the group consisting of a distance moved by the object, a speed of the object, or an acceleration of the object.

12. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 2, wherein the activity metric characterizes a movement of the object as a specific type of movement commonly executed by a person during the course of the athletic activity.

13. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 3, wherein the step of recording movement data comprises:

recording acceleration data.

14. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 3, wherein the step of recording movement data comprises:

recording magnetic field data.

15. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 3, wherein the data structure is a lookup table.

16. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 3, wherein the activity metric is selected from the group consisting of a distance moved by the object, a speed of the object, or an acceleration of the object.

17. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 3, wherein the activity metric characterizes a movement of the object as a specific type of movement commonly executed by a person during the course of the athletic activity.

18. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined activation movement comprises a series of discrete movements.

19. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining that the movement of the object corresponds to a predetermined activation movement comprises:

comparing acceleration data associated with the predetermined activation movement to acceleration data detected in association with the movement of the object.

20. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining that the movement of the object corresponds to a predetermined activation movement comprises:

comparing timing data associated with the predetermined activation movement to timing data detected in association with the movement of the object.

21. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the active state is characterized by the sensor module consuming more power during the active state than prior to the active state.

22. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 1, wherein the active state is characterized by the sensor module sampling data from the accelerometer at a higher rate during the active state than prior to the active state.

23. An athletic activity monitoring method for use with a sensor module that is physically coupled to an object during an athletic activity conducted by a user, the athletic activity monitoring method comprising:

detecting movement of the object;

recording movement data;

identifying a matching athletic motion from a plurality of reference motions by comparing the movement data to data associated with the plurality of reference motions; and

providing an output to the user that conveys the identity of the matching athletic motion.

24. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein the object is the user'"'"'s body.

25. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein the object is a piece of athletic equipment used by the user during the athletic activity.

26. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein detecting movement of the object comprises detecting movement of the object based on accelerometer data.

27. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein detecting movement of the object comprises detecting movement of the object based on magnetometer data.

28. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein the matching athletic motion comprises a series of discrete movements.

29. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein the data associated with the plurality of reference motions is selected from the group consisting of acceleration data, magnetic field data, or timing data.

30. The athletic activity monitoring method of claim 23, wherein the activity is a team sport and the matching athletic motion is a motion commonly executed by a person during the team sport.

31-89. -89. (canceled)

90. An athletic activity monitoring method for use with a sensor module that is physically coupled to an object during an athletic activity conducted by a user, the athletic activity monitoring method comprising:

obtaining data about the movement of the object from an acceleration sensor of the sensor module;

obtaining data about the movement of the object from a magnetic field sensor of the sensor module;

determining an activity metric based on the data about the movement of the object from an acceleration sensor and the data about the movement of the object from a magnetic field sensor; and

comparing the activity metric to an exemplary activity metric; and

providing feedback to the user about how the activity metric compares to the exemplary activity metric.

91-105. -105. (canceled)